Why “Longlegs” is the most viral horror film of the year

The release of Longlegs, the fourth film directed by Osgood Perkins, has captured the attention of the entire web because it presented itself in the best possible way for a thriller-horror: through word of mouth. The first thing everyone knew about the film is that it’s terrifyingly scary, that Nicolas Cage is unrecognizable and creepy, and that even the lead actress was frightened when she first saw him on set. The plot, and this was known, follows the hunt for a serial killer in the '90s by an FBI agent played by Maika Monroe (scream queen of It Follows and The Watcher, among others) which takes deeply unsettling turns when she realizes she has a personal connection with the killer. The entire plot and the film’s appearance, including the actual look of the serial killer played by Cage, remained shrouded in mystery, which obviously helped elevate the hype for the film. However, we know that Cage wears prosthetic makeup that gives his face a grotesque and vaguely artificial look, a kind of blonde wig, and that, to paraphrase critic Jeremy Jahns, turns Cage’s self-defined “Nouveau Shamanic” acting style into something terrifying. Predictably, it's already a hit: with a minimal budget of just ten million dollars, the film grossed over twenty-two million on its opening weekend – and that’s just in America. Unfortunately, the film has now been released in the US theaters but will presumably arrive in Italy in the fall or winter – assuming it actually hits theaters and not some streaming service, as its on-demand release has already been set for August.

Now the first reviews are already out, all readable on Rotten Tomatoes for those who want to get an idea, and they speak of a film with strong atmospheres, very disturbing, thanks also to a dissonant and anxiety-inducing soundtrack created by the director’s brother, who is a musician. No one is calling it a masterpiece, but in any case, for genre enthusiasts, it’s definitely one of the seasonal must-watches, a bit like Talk to Me was last year. Many are comparing it, in general vibe, to The Silence of the Lambs, which is a bit the archetype of the “serial killer hunt” genre but remains an unsurpassed masterpiece: the plot similarities are evident, including the young FBI recruit involved in an investigation larger than herself and the face-to-face dialogue with a diabolical and utterly insane killer. The comparison, however, gives us an idea of that sense of deep anguish and discomfort that could be sampled in the cryptic trailers released by the production studio Neon which, opting for guerrilla marketing, made the film’s fortune by reaching break-even in forty-eight hours. Among the promotional strategies, besides the mysterious clips released before the launch, there is also a website documenting the gruesome murders seen in the film and even a phone number that, when called, plays Nicolas Cage's screaming voice. There’s an issue to note: when a horror movie is described as "the scariest," it rarely is. This does not detract from its value, and that’s undeniable, but it's best to avoid approaching it with unrealistic expectations. Remember that, in the horror world, the scariest films are often watched once if they achieve their desired effect. Anyone who doesn't believe this should watch The Poughkeepsie Tapes or Megan is Missing to understand how absolute terror often translates into unpleasant viewing experiences in one way or another.

Obviously, there was also an important matter of credibility: Maika Monroe’s presence acts as a sort of seal of guarantee for the film, as she is a cult presence in the indie horror community, and the same can be said for Cage, who, after a downturn in his career, has rediscovered himself as a niche character actor and starred in some of the most beautiful (or strange) genre films of recent years, including Mandy, Mom and Dad, Renfield, and Color Out of Space. Not to mention, and this detail interests only the most horror-obsessed nerds, the director is a particular kind of nepo baby since his father is the legendary Anthony Perkins, Norman Bates in Psycho, one of the first iconic serial killers in American cinema history in the '60s. Incidentally, the director is also the great-grandson of Elsa Schiaparelli if his lineage lacked luster. Anyway, for anyone wanting to see it, the most heartfelt advice is to wait for the summer streaming release. As of today, the film does not have an Italian release date, and everything suggests it may not arrive in theaters. Of course, the enormous success the film is encountering could push distributors to bring it to theaters. Surely, Cage’s disturbing performance deserves the big screen.